password] Bri44angel
[position] 09 29.055N 143 54.939W
[speed] 4 kts (if we're lucky)
[heading] 320T (sort of)
[weather] Winds E/variable 7-9 kts; seas E 1.5m; 75% cloud cover; bar 1010, falling.
[status] Forget what we said yesterday about being through the worst of the ITCZ - the high seas forecast we downloaded after posting yesterday's update indicated we weren't even to the ITCZ yet! Today's forecast indicates we might be in the middle of it right now - which would seem to match the fluky winds and squalls we have been experiencing most of the day. We did set sails this morning, turning off the engine at long last, with what looked like promising easterly winds at 11-13 kts, but as the morning wore on, the winds wore out; now we are slatting along at a breakneck 3.5-4 kts in anything from 7-9 kts of wind, from variable directions, and up to 21 kts in the fairly frequent squalls. It may be time to burn a few more fossils and get out of this soup! The frustration mounts as the fuel supply dwindles, but "All is (still) well on board!" Thanks for following us on YIT!
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